SB 1.2.24 (1962)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 24
Parthibad daruno dhumas tasmad agnis trayee mayah
Tasmasas tu rajas tasmat satwam yad Brahma Darshanam.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Parthibad-from earth, Daruno-fire wood, Dhumas-smoke, Tasmat-from that, Agnis-fire, Trayee-Vedic sacrifices, Tamasas-the mode of ignorance, Tu-but, Rajas-the mode of passion, Tasmat-from that, Satwam-the mode of goodness, Yad-which, Brahma-the Absolute Truth, Darshnam-realisation.
TRANSLATION
The fire wood is a transformation of the earth and smoke is better than the raw wood. And fire is still better because by fire we can derive so many benefits by superior knowledge (Vedas). Similarly Rajas quality of matter is better than the tamas quality but Satwa quality is the superior quality by which one can realise the Absolute Truth.
PURPORT
As explained above that one can get release from the conditioned life of material existence by the devotional service of the Personality of Godhead, it is further comprehended herein that one has to rise upto the platform of the mode of goodness (Satwam) so that one can be eligible for the devotional service of the Lord. But there is impediment in such progressive path and any one even from the plateform of tamas quality one can gradually rise up to the Satwam platform by the expert direction of the spiritual master. Such desiring candidates must, therefore, approach an expert spiritual master for such progressive march and the bonafide expert spiritual master is competent to direct a disciple from any stage of life tamas, rajas or satwam.
It is a mistake, therefore, to consider that worship of any quality or any form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is equally beneficent. Except Vishnu all other separated forms are manifested under the conditions of the material energy and therefore, the forms of material energy cannot help any one to rise up to the platform of Satwa which alone can liberate a person from the material bondage.
Uncivilised state of life or the life of the lower animals are controlled by the modes of Tamas. Civilised life of man with a passion for various type of material benefits is the stage of Rajas. The Rajas stage of life has a slight clue to the realisation of the Absolute Truth in the forms of fine sentiments in philosophy art and culture with moral and ethical principles but the modes of Satwam is still a higher stage of material quality which actually helps one in realising the Absolute Truth. In other words as there is the qualitative difference between the three modes of nature similarly there is difference between the different kinds of worshipping methods as well as the respective results derived out of the predominating deities namely Brahma, Vishnu and Hara.